Method of lowering the boiling and flashing point of kerosene and like hydrocarbon oils



W. MACB' WHEELER. METHOD OF LOWERING THE BOILING AND FLASHING POINT OF KEROSENE AND LIKE HYDROCARBON OILS. APPLICATION FILED AUGJ. 1918.

1,387,876. Patented Aug. 16, 1921.

Inventor filling/(by M. II /88192 I a ifornegs V UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE.

WILLOUGHBY MAUBAIN WHEELER, OF MELBOURNE, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA, ASSIGNOB OI ONE-EAL]? 1'0 OZMO OIL REFINING COMPANY, OF SAN FRAN- orsco, ours-01mm, a

CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

IE'IEOD OI THE BOILING AND FLASHING POINT. OF KEROSENE AND I LIKE HYDBOCA'RBON OILS.

To allwhom it may com-em.

Be it known that I, WILLOUGHBY MAOBAIN WHEELER, a subject of the King of England, residing at Melbourne, in the Province of Victoria, Australia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Methods of Lowthe retort; the quantity of oil ering the Boilin and Flashing Point of Kerosene and like Hydrocarbon Oils, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a method of lowering the boiling and flashing point of kerosene and like hydrocarbon oils.

The object of the present invention is to provide a simple and economic method of treating kerosene, stove oils, distillate and the like to lower their boiling and flashing point, and to render said oils more volatile and suitable for use in internal combustion engines such as are now generally employed in motor vehicles, trucks and the like, and for other uses.

My process is carried out in an apparatus substantially as that illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which is a diagrammatic view of the. a paratus.

Referring to the drawing, A indicates in general a retort, 2 a superheater, 3 a condenser of suitable construction, 4: an oil container, and 5 a water boiler. Connecting the container 4: and the boiler 5 with the retort is a pair of pipes 6 and 7, which are at 8 before they enter the retort.

Fined as 'laced on each'pipe is a controlling valve such as shown at 9 and 10, and placed in the oil container and the boiler 5 by similar F means as shown.

In operating my method or when treating the oil it is necessaryto apply heat as shown to the several parts of the apparatus, oil vapors and steam are thus I are admitted through the connection 8 to vapor and steam admitted being regulated by the valves 9 and 1- e'vapors mix at the point of entrance, and are further mixed during their passage through the retort, as this is filled with a refractory broken mategenerated, which Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug, 16, 1921. Application filed August 7, 1918. Serial No. 248,706.

rial such as fire brick or the like such as shown at 14. The retort heated as shown is maintained at a temperature for example, of from 600 F. to 800 F. he mixed vapors'are thus gradually heated during their passage as the refractory material serves as a means of conducting the heat from the exterior walls of the retort, thus maintaining an even temperature within the same, and a large heating surface over which the vapors must pass. A final temperature of approximately 800 F. is thus obtained before the mixed vapors escape through the contracted nozzle 11 into the superheater 2 where they immediately expand to atmospheric pressure. The size of the nozzle 11 is such thata constant ressure is maintained within the retort. his pressure may be varied, but I have found that fifteen pounds gage'pressure is very suitable. The mixed vapors are thus not only gradually heated during their passage through the retort, but they are also sub ected to pressure which seems to form an important factor in the operation of the process.

he superheater 2 is connected directly.

the condensing coil is open to the atmospliere, and it can therefore be seen that the vapors under pressure escaping from the nozzle 11 willimmediately expand to atmospheric pressure, They must, however, necessarily pass 'throu h the superheater 2 before they can enter t e condenser and the temperature which is finally obtained in the superheaterwill probably seldom exceed 900 They are rapidly cooled after leaving the superheater and finally discharge from the condenser as a liquid.

The water does not seem to combine with the oil, as it instantly separates from the oil when placed in a container. The nature of the oil, that-is, its boiling and flashing point is, however, changed entirely as it flashes so readily as to compare favorably with gasolene. It can thus be. seen that it can now readily be employed as a motor fuel, due to the fact that'it has been rendered more volatile and explosive, thus permitting complete combustion in the engine, which limits thecarbon troubles usually encountered when kereosene or like oils are employed.

The quantity of steam or water employed varies considerably with the character of oil being treated. The proportions required may, however, be easily determined in practice by sampling the product or the dis.- charge from the condenser, the product obtained being slightly yellow in tinge, and will readily flash with a blue flame under normal temperature when a match is applied.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A method of lowering the boiling and flashing point of kerosene and like oils, which consists in converting the oil to be treated to a vapor, mixing said oil vapor with steam, subjecting said mixed vapors to a low pressure, gradually increasing the temperature of said vapors while subjected. to pressure, then expanding the vapors to atmospheric pressure, further increasing their temperature after expansion, and finally condensing the vapors and gravity separation of the oil from the liquid.

2. A method of lowering the boiling and flashing point of kerosene and like oils, which consists in converting the oil to be treated to a vapor, mixing said oil vapor with steam, subjecting said mixed vapors to pressure in a chamber through which they art made to pass, gradually increasing the temperature of the vapors during their passage through the chamber, expanding the vapors after their passage through the chamber, further increasing their temperature after expansion and then cooling and condensing the vapors and gravity separation of the oil from the liquid.

3. A method of lowering the boiling and flashing point of kerosene and like oils, which consists in converting the oils to be treated to a vapor, mixing said oil vapor with steam while subjecting the same to pressure, gradually increasing the temperature of the mixed vapors, reducing the pressure of the vapors to atmospheric pressure and simultaneously increasing the temperature of the vapors to approximately 900 F., said temperature increase being rapid and only momentary, and then subjecting the vapors to a condensing temperature and gravity separation of the olil from the liquid.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLOUGHBY MacBAlN WHEELER.

Witnesses:

JOHN H. HERRING, W. W. HEALEY. 

